what if someone wants to drive your Z ??
 

* This thread is not aiming at any specific person in this forum at all. Please I hope there would be no misunderstanding.

Sometimes I've seen those who say they want to drive my Z just because it is a sports car, and I believe any sports car owners including the other Z owners could have had the same experience too.

I personally want to avoid any type of trouble or stress from all hassles and nuisances as possible as I can, therefore I usually respond to them just with my firm poker face and absolute silence instead of directly saying 'no'.

What would you do if someone (especially if a person whom you do not want to permit for driving your Z) asks to you for a temporary test-driving ?


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All the homies have race cars and I let them drive as they let me drive their cars.


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If you don't want them to, don't. You committed tens of thousands of dollars to it. Test drive is more of something you'd offer, not ask for imo — even if it's econoboxes. If they trip, I doubt your friends circle or whatever would be stupid enough to side with him/her.

In the case of more favorable friends I'd only be open to this if they were legit mulling their options. Or, not to be a snob, but if they had something of equivalent performance, yeah a "trade" test drive is probably on the table. Kinda boils down to if they're proficient drivers, and they can absorb something going wrong by their fault. On the other hand, I'd more easily trust a specialty shop mechanic or an established forum member here — obviously because they have the same car and perhaps with a higher end build.

I would hate to have that awkward pit of someone I'm on good terms with owing me big and possibly screwing up both our records but you have to sugarcoat it as "no worries this will get sorted" "it's just a car" and that crap that most people in their right minds don't actually mean unless they've got piles of cash to replace things.

Usually those who I allow to drive any of my cars are already "qualified"; the "unqualified" ones usually don't ask me. In the case of the very few cases, I approached it depending on the person and familiarity. Usually the "unqualified" ones are timid in driving and I usually encourage them to drive it closer to the limit.

What is the qualification, you ask? I consider a "qualified" person as one who has competition experience. Any of my autocrossing friends qualifies. From time to time, I have offered and allowed a friend to drive my C6Z06 in an autox when his own Corvette broke down. Another time, a less experienced friend drove my CTS-V and I coached him how to go through my favorite 100-mph on-ramp (downshift to 5th, hold speed at about 100 mph, steer, and never lift!).

I wanted to know how others would treat with annoying nuisances, especially in that situation of my thread title.

It is good if your cars have been not yet in any trouble, and you can permit only 'qualified' drivers to try yours.

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It would be about the same case with my Z (was 350Z and now 370Z), interestingly, nobody has asked to drive any of the Zs. I would be less strict "screening" as the Z has the smallest engine and lowest power compared to my other cars.

If I decided that someone should not drive my car, I just politely say, "sorry, no".

Wife, Son, Me only. If you were to put a $80K deposit ????? I like my car! I have turned down driving a 1200HP BOSS TT, I just don't want to if I don't own it.

I think a respectful no is enough. You are not obligated to let anyone drive your car if you dont feel comfortable with it. Youre either OK with it or youre not.

If they want a test drive, nissan dealerships give them out for free! They will even sell you a 370z if you like the car :driving:

My motto "you break, you buy" but I never feel obligated.

Op, how many times have you been seriously asked to hand over the keys? I am curious because others usually know not to ask to drive another person's car, especially an enthusiast's car.

To your question, I would first gauge the seriousness of the request by semi "laughing it off". 2nd request yields response with a smile "if you buy the car from me". Third time? Just a polite but direct "No, can't do, I do not like people driving my car".

Then take a hint from Nancy Reagan and just say no. This is not the playground - you don't have to share your toys. Sounds to me like you need to find new friends.

Personally, I take it on a case-by-case basis. If I trust your driving, here's the keys. If not, the answer is no.

If you do decide to let others drive your vehicles, make sure your insurance coverage includes any licensed driver and that they have a valid DL.

I don't care who it is or how they'll react. I simply say no and that's it. If they don't like it or get pissed at me, they can kiss my a$$ for all I care. I'll let my brothers drive it, and that's it, one of which also owns a Z.

Anybody else?... Screw them.

:iagree:

Although i couldnt imagine anyone being so insisting unless he was trying to rob you :eekdance:

I say no and then I blame it on how quick the car is for unexperienced people. If they know about cars they would start a conversation with HP number, 0-60 times and stuff like that. If they don't know about car then they will acknowledge how quick the car is and praise all the car gods for the Z.


No, seriously, I say no every time.

Only my family members. All my friends don't know how to drive a stick shift so they don't even bother asking. If you're going to lend someone your car, use your judgment and really think about the qualification that person has.

One time this person I know (not even a close friend of mine) had the audacity to ask me if he could borrow my brand new Z, without even license plate, to a high school prom.